Western television may be responsible for the rise of cowboy core themed travel. Whether you fell in love with Rip Wheeler on “Yellowstone,” got sucked into its spinoff “1923,” or found yourself a fan of the book-to-screen adaptation of the Walt Longmire stories, it’s impossible to ignore that western culture has influenced modern travel. And what better way to dive into your own occidental fantasy land than to visit a dude ranch?
Set in California’s “Lost Sierras,” a quick 90-minute jaunt from Reno, Greenhorn Ranch in Quincy is perhaps the best place to make your cowboy dreams come true. Welcoming families since 1962, the authentic dude ranch is one of few experiences of its kind, and the closest to our hometown. With 608 sprawling acres, the premier guest ranch feels like family summer camp, championing activities such as archery, fly fishing, horseback riding, and more.
The property leans into ranch life where cell phone service is sparse but the good times aren’t. Packages include both pay-as-you-go stays and all-inclusive options that feature lodging, meals, and activities so you can spend your days booking back to back trail rides of various difficulty levels, learning how to fly fish in the property’s pond or further out on the Feather River, and perfecting your archery skills as you take aim at animal-shaped targets in the woods. Other adventure activities include skeet shooting, hatchet throwing, mountain biking, and leatherworking workshops.
Many of the premiere activities start with instruction from a knowledgeable and experienced guide while other activities, like lawn games, traditional fishing, and karaoke, are more guest-led. When you’re not booked into a specific event, you can spend your afternoon on the lawn playing volleyball, football, soccer, cornhole, or even doing arts and crafts. The centerpiece catch-and-release pond is open with provided poles and lures. Perhaps the most majestic pastime is watching the daily running of the horses as they gallop from the main ranch to their nighttime accommodations.
Because the property is small, and much of the staff lives onsite or nearby often just for the season, even a weekend at Greenhorn Ranch will have you feeling like family. Every evening has its own scheduled activity such as karaoke, fireside stories, movie nights, or paint and sip, plus the saloon stays open for drinks and mingling. The fact that the staff participates and socializes with guests truly makes the experience. And if you don’t want to join in, there’s always pool tables, table tennis, and shuffleboard in the adjacent room, or board games in the main lodge.
Guests can choose between one of 12 main lodge rooms, 16 rustic cabins, or a refurbished airstream for their home away from home. The bucolic accommodations open up to the expansive scenery, with miles upon miles of green hiking trails and a short wooden bridge extended over a babbling creek.
While food may seem like an afterthought on a vacation like this, the truth is it’s truly a highlight. Three times a day the dinner bell chimes and meals are spread out buffet style. The on-site chef makes gourmet burgers, tasty BBQ, grilled hot dogs, perfect pasta salad, and more. Every day the menu changes and each meal is better than the last. Trust us when we say it’s some of the best food we’ve ever had.
The season runs May to October when the weather is warm and for many is a cherished family tradition. While newcomers discover the ranch, which once operated as a humble goat farm during the Gold Rush, every year, there’s also a slew of regulars that return time and time again to spend their summers in nostalgia with family and friends.